No Nitrite Or Nitrate

[Owen386]

Hey All,

On Day 12 or 13 of my fishless cycle......

Ammonia hit zero on like day 7 dozed to 4ppm tested on day 9 ammonia had broken down to Zero and still no traces of nitrite or nitrate just tested again day 12 ammonia back down to 0.0 ppm ammonia but still no pressence of nitrtite or nitrate. Whats the Deal! I need To know if I am doing anything wrong PLEASE HELP!

info:

20 gal tank ph 7.5 few plants couple things of decor gravel substrate OTB Filter Rated for 30 Gal. anything else you need to know let me know

Any Ideas are More Than Welcome. Thanks


-OWEN


-Owen

 

[electropunk06]

Hi how often are you testing?
You should be testing daily, and then moving onto every 12 hours.
Do you have any nitrate removing filter media or similar?
Lloyd

 

[Little_Nemo]

You've not done/doing anything wrong. Cycles are known to take a while I remember someone saying that cycles have been to take 72 days to fully cycle. No 2 cycles are the same, a cycle that takes a week for nitrite to appear may take another cycle 2 weeks for nitrite to appear. You just gotta let it run its course.

 

[Owen386]

Hi how often are you testing?
You should be testing daily, and then moving onto every 12 hours.
Do you have any nitrate removing filter media or similar?
Lloyd

Was Off of Work All week last week so Checked like every 6 hours because I was so anxious to see something happen I know noooooo need..... LOL! but now as I am Back To work Checking once A Day at 530 P.M Nitrate Removing Media?? I dont Think So.... maybe.... please explain. I have live plants. Temp kept at 83


-OWen

 

[Owen386]

You've not done/doing anything wrong. Cycles are known to take a while I remember someone saying that cycles have been to take 72 days to fully cycle. No 2 cycles are the same, a cycle that takes a week for nitrite to appear may take another cycle 2 weeks for nitrite to appear. You just gotta let it run its course.

normal to be hitting zero Ammonia with no Nitrite or Nitrate? Have re-dosed 2 times now.


-Owen

 

[electropunk06]

Hi how often are you testing?
You should be testing daily, and then moving onto every 12 hours.
Do you have any nitrate removing filter media or similar?
Lloyd

Was Off of Work All week last week so Checked like every 6 hours because I was so anxious to see something happen I know noooooo need..... LOL! but now as I am Back To work Checking once A Day at 530 P.M Nitrate Removing Media?? I dont Think So.... maybe.... please explain. I have live plants. Temp kept at 83


-OWen

Hi some filter media can remove nitrate from the water.
I would guess the plants will be taking the ammonia out of the water, therefore slowing your cycle. they will also be taking out any nitrite and nitrate. i would remove your plant if you want to properly cycle your filter. But if you want a heavily planted tank with not too many fish, you could get away without fish less cycling your tank but i wouldn't advise this (have a read in the planted section).
Lloyd

 

[Owen386]

PLany on doing proper cycle... Thanks for the idea though.

I just cant see how 2 little plants are stalling my cycle. are they?

"Hi some filter media can remove nitrate from the water" What kinds?

-Owen

 

[waterdrop]

If its only a couple of plants in a 20G then that shouldn't be a big factor. You are still within the normal variation range we see in fishless cycles. Some people start seeing nitrite before their ammonia is dropping to zero, some people like you have ammonia dropping to zero for a while before any nitrite shows up on the tests. Just keep going.

~~waterdrop~~